Five Essential Items for Your Man Cave Design [PHOTOS]

Wait – what’s that? You don’t have the world’s best man cave? No problem. You don’t need a walk-in humidor, a hand-crafted wine cellar or custom-built leather recliners to have a great “man cave” to make your friends drool.

What you do need are a few helpful tips from Peter Salerno, the creator of “Man Cave Classics”, one of the world’s foremost interior designers and recipient of an unprecedented 23 NKBA design awards over the last decade.

With these five helpful tips, you can transform your den or media room into a man cave so amazing, your friends will drool with envy. (Then, your only problem will be getting them to leave after the party’s over!)

5 Tips to Create an Awesome Man Cave

1. Make your bar unique, eye-popping and memorable.

This tip is a Peter Salerno specialty. Don’t believe us? Take a look at this 1959 Corvette that Peter transformed into the most amazing bar in the world:

All it takes is a little creativity and a personal touch. Take something you’re passionate about and use it as the basis for your very own custom-built bar. (And if you need some assistance, Peter Salerno and his team will be glad to help you design the bar of your dreams!)

2. Make sure you have plenty of comfortable seating.

Your man cave should be a place to hang out, crash and relax. Make sure there’s plenty of space and seating for you and your buddies to lounge around without feeling cramped or uncomfortable.

You don’t have to spend a fortune on recliners and sectional sofas – just make sure that there’s at least one more seat than the amount of guests you expect (just in case someone brings a friend). Oh, and as far as your own seat? Make sure you designate a chair of your own – every master of a man cave should have his favorite place to sit!

3. Make the decor personal to you.

When you think of a prototypical man cave, a few things instantly come to mind: animal heads mounted on the wall, tacky bearskin rugs, and so on. Don’t go the conventional, “over done” route – make your man cave your very own!

A great idea is to personalize the decor in your man cave with items, art and designs that showcase who you are and what your life is all about. For example, Peter Salerno designed one of his man caves with a professional graffiti artist, who “tagged” the walls with an awesome city skyline as well as the initials and names of his family, friends and loved ones.

At some point, guests to your man cave will want to do something other than sit around and watch TV. At this point, you need other forms of entertainment to keep them occupied. Peter Salerno and his team suggest a form of physical activity: pool table, air hockey, old-school pinball machine, etc.

Keeping your guests spread out around your man cave also ensures that everyone mingles, no one feels cramped, and there’s plenty of room for everyone to feel comfortable, relaxed and never bored.

5. Add the element of surprise.

What if a bookcase in your man cave hides a hidden door to your garage, a cigar room/humidor or the rest of your house? How about having your TV hidden behind a large mirror? Or perhaps you could have secret shelving units for your liquor, games, or other man cave “treasures”?

These are just a few ideas to take your man cave to the next level. The element of surprise will not only entertain your guests, but take the “Wow” factor of your man cave through the roof. Imagine giving your friends the man cave experience of their lives, and then springing one last secret on them – how great is that?

These are just a few ideas to make your man cave the envy of your friends (and neighborhood rivals?). If you want even more great ideas regarding custom man cave, wine cellar, cigar room or game room construction and design, then you’re definitely going to want to contact Peter Salerno and create your very own Man Cave Classic!

Check Out ‘WOW’ Designers on Houzz for Design Inspiration

Browsing the Ideabooks on Houzz (the leading social media site for design) is a great way to get ideas for your next home design project. Houzz and the NKBA have compiled an Ideabook of “Designs That WOW” for your enjoyment and inspiration – and our parent company Peter Salerno Inc. is proud to be highlighted.

Not only is Peter’s custom La Cornue showroom kitchen the first photo listed in the “Designs That WOW” Ideabook, but Peter Salerno Inc. has been honored with five selections in the Ideabook, compiled by the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA). It’s yet another fantastic honor bestowed upon Peter Salerno by the NKBA (Peter is the NKBA’s most award-winning designer over the last decade).

Peter Salerno Inc. utilizes Houzz to keep its valued clients (and prospective design clients) up to date on their latest designs, projects and before-and-after kitchen, bath, and home design pictures. Many of the pictures featured are taken by the fantastic photographer Peter Rywmid.

Peter Rymwid, Architecture and Interior Design Photography Master

Much of the photography you see on Design Your Lifestyle comes from one impeccable source: Peter Rymwid. For over 2 decades, Peter Rymwid has been a pre-eminent photographer of architecture, kitchen design, bath design, interiors and landscapes.

Our parent company, Peter Salerno Inc., has trusted and relied upon Peter Rymwid’s photography skill for years to present its award-winning kitchen designs, bath designs and interior designs in the best possible light. As stated in a previous article from Peter Salerno Inc.:

At Peter Salerno Inc., we’re all about the extraordinary. We take the utmost care and pride to bring our clients one-of-a-kind, award-winning designs that change the way they live. From kitchens to baths, bars to “man caves” and beyond, Peter Salerno and his team of designers find joy in transforming the personal and professional spaces of their valued clients and friends.

Peter Salerno loves to share photos of his work that truly display the craftsmanship, artistry, and attention to detail they possess. When it comes to that high level of photography, we have come to trust the phenomenal Peter Rymwid as our “unofficial-official” Peter Salerno Inc. photographer.

Peter Rymwid has lent his photography prowess to some world-renowned projects. During the run of hit reality show “The Apprentice”, Peter captured exclusive photographs of Donald Trump’s Boardroom from the series.

Exclusive photo of Trump’s Board Room from The Apprentice, by Peter Rymwid.

Peter Rymwid’s reputation as a brilliant photographer with an astute eye for interior design and architectural photography has made him one of the most sought-after photographers in the industry. From Peter’s professional website:

Peter… has been photographing interiors and architecture for more than 20 years. During that time, his work has appeared on an unprecedented number of covers of books and magazines – more than 100 in all.

Peter finds, captures and delivers true elegance and the uniqueness of each interior he photographs, producing a lasting record and an immersive, memorable experience for the viewer.

We cannot thank and praise Peter enough for the stunning photography he’s provided to Peter Salerno Inc. – and by proxy, to us at Design Your Lifestyle. Take a moment to enjoy these gorgeous kitchen, bath, interior and architecture photos from the masterful Peter Rymwid.

Pairing Pantone Spring 2018 Neutrals For Home Design

The Pantone Spring 2018 Color Collection has produced some of our favorite neutral tones in years.

Beige, white, off-white and gray are all present in this season’s collection, and each tone (be it classic or contemporary) brings with it a myriad of design pairings and design options. While the needs of home designers are different than those designing for the runway, the Pantone Spring 2018 color palette still serves as a helpful guide and inspiration for home design experts and home owners alike.

From classic gray and white tones to a warm, inviting beige and a blushing off-white stunner, here are 4 of our favorite neutral shades from the Pantone Spring 2018 color collection – and some other Pantone Spring 2018 colors we think pair nicely with each.

Harbor Mist: A Classic Gray Neutral

Sturdy, reliable and not-too-dark, Harbor Mist is a classic gray neutral. It’s a light enough shade of gray to provide a stable anchor for your design without darkening the room. Part of the Classic Colors sub-set of the Pantone Spring 2018 collection, Harbor Mist is most useful with two color palettes in mind: nautical and primary colors. (Think blues, whites, reds, beiges, and yellows).

Pair Harbor Mist With:

Coconut Milk: A Versatile Off-White Neutral

Coconut Milk is a fantastic slightly off-white neutral that plays directly into the trend of white kitchen designs and living space designs that has dominated 2017 and 2018 home design. We love the idea of pairing it with “woody” browns like Emperador, or bold jewel tones like Arcadia. The best part of designing with Coconut Milk is that it can serve as a ‘blank canvas’ for bolder colors, or the fresh white focus of your design.

Pair Coconut Milk With:

Almost Mauve: A Blushing Neutral

Almost Mauve is such a sneaky and fun neutral to play with if you like warm tones and pastels. A closer look at its shade reveals a slight blush – but is it rosy? Is it lavender? Whatever the case may be, this beautiful gem of a neutral works well with so many warm and pastel tones… and the Pantone Spring 2018 collection is full of them!

Pair Almost Mauve With:

Warm Sand: An “Anything But Boring” Beige Neutral

An anchor tone of the Pantone 2018 Classic Colors sub-set of the Spring 2018 collection, Warm Sand is an inviting beige that can bring any number of complementary colors to your design ‘dance floor’. We’re in love with the idea of pairing Warm Sand with shades like Meadowlark and Little Boy Blue – but the best part of Warm Sand is its versatility. Try it with warmer shades like Chili Oil, or why not pair it with another neutral (Coconut Milk is a great choice)?

Three years later, the beautiful transitional bathroom is still a timeless, stunning design. It was awarded 2nd place nationally by Signature Kitchens and Baths magazine in March 2015. It was quite an honor for Peter Salerno and his team, who also took home two national kitchen design awards from the NKBA during the 2015 KBIS convention in Las Vegas.

‘Simple Tranquility’ is a transitional bathroom in Bergen County, NJ. The cabinets are walnut with an espresso stain from Peter Salerno Inc’s coveted “Mastro Rosolino” (TM) line of cabinets.

The tops are marble from Stone Surfaces in East Rutherford, NJ. The backsplash is glass and porcelain, and the floor is marble tile by Stratta – The Tile Boutique , Wyckoff, NJ. The hardware is polished stainless from Hardware Designs in Fairfield, NJ. All the fixtures and fittings also came from Hardware Designs, while the sconces and chandelier came from Capitol Lighting in Paramus, NJ.

This gorgeous transitional bath design was truly a team effort, and Peter Salerno certainly shares this award with all parties involved – Stratta, Stone Surfaces, Hardware Designs, Capitol Lighting, and his own team at Peter Salerno Inc.

But the people to truly be congratulated are the owners of this nationally award-winning bathroom – it was their project, their space, and their dreams that made this room a reality!

Photos of Peter Salerno Inc. Award-Winning Kitchen Design

Being a subsidiary of America’s most award-winning custom kitchen and bath design firm of the 21st century has its benefits. We love getting exclusive insight into the work and designs of Peter Salerno Inc. – and this look back at a nationally recognized 2015 kitchen design is a wonderful way to spend our day.

The award, 2nd place for Best Large Kitchen, is the 10th national design award for Peter Salerno Inc. since 2012, and the 28th since 2002, making Peter Salerno Inc. the most award-winning kitchen and bath designer in North America over the last 15 years.

Now, let’s take an inside look at this beautiful, award-winning kitchen!

The kitchen is proudly owned by Julie and Tom Connors, and features a gorgeous combination of opulence and comfort. Several “signature” Peter Salerno Inc. design elements are present, including custom, hand-crafted cabinetry, a custom tin range hood, an abundant use of natural light, and a dazzling ceiling design, including hand-crafted designs, mirror inlays, and a stunning centerpiece chandelier.

Peter Salerno loved this design so much, he couldn’t resist taking a photo in it with his father Rosolino and son Anthony. It’s a rare glimpse at “3 Generations of Salernos” – both the man who inspired Peter Salerno as a child, and the man who one day may continue his father’s legacy.

Pantone Releases Expanded Spring 2018 Color Palette

Color design lovers, prepare for an explosion of color in Spring 2018! Pantone has released its Spring 2018 color palette for New York Fashion Week that offers 12 bold color choices, as well as a “Classic color palette” that presents another 4 selections.

It’s a huge leap forward for Pantone, the world’s foremost authority on color design and color matching. In recent years, Pantone has released seasonal collections of 10 colors, offering plenty of selection and inspiration for color design enthusiasts.

The Spring 2018 expansion to 16 colors provides an even larger palette from which to choose – and that doesn’t even include the “London” color palette!